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re: College football coaches poll: USA Today names 5 most overrated teams in top 25
Posted on 8/6/26 at 10:46 am to captdalton
Posted on 8/6/26 at 10:46 am to captdalton
Looks like both have been consistently overrated, based on those numbers.
1
Posted on 8/6/26 at 10:53 am to captdalton
quote:
Here is how the two SEC teams listed have fared the past 5 seasons in terms of meeting expectations. Preseason AP ranking, final AP ranking, difference.
2021
Alabama: 1, 2, -1
LSU: 16, unranked (received no votes, 35 teams did so I put them at 36), -20
2022
Alabama: 1, 5, -4
LSU: unranked (30th in votes received), 16, +14
2023
Alabama: 4, 5, -1
LSU: 5, 12, -7
2024:
Alabama: 5, 17, -12
LSU: 13, unranked (27th in votes received), -14
2025:
Alabama: 8, 9, -1
LSU: 9, unranked (received no votes. 39 teams did so I put them at 40), -31
Looks like LSU should hire a new coaching staff or something.
Posted on 8/6/26 at 10:53 am to TrueLefty
I think LSU in the mid-teens to start the season is just about right. The roster is pretty solid. On the fringe discussions of a 12-team playoff team should be where they're at all season.
Posted on 8/6/26 at 11:05 am to NorthTxLSU
quote:
Would love to know who these key contributors were outside of Mansoor
LSU lost around 50 players to the NFL draft, exhausted eligibility, and the portal.
QB: lost top two passers
RB: lost 3rd, 4th, and 5th leading rushers.
WR: lost 2nd, 4th, and 7th leading receivers.
LB: lost leader in sacks who was also tied for 1st in INTs
DB: lost best defensive back
DT: lost best defensive tackle
OL: lost best offensive lineman
It is easier to list the contributors who returned than those they lost.
Returning Offensive Starters
Harlem Berry (Running Back)
Caden Durham (Running Back)
Trey'Dez Green (Tight End)
Weston Davis (Offensive Lineman)
Braelin Moore (Offensive Lineman)
Returning Defensive Starters
Whit Weeks (Linebacker)
Davhon Keys (Linebacker)
Tamarcus Cooley (Defensive Back)
PJ Woodland (Defensive Back)
The offense returned only around 10 players from last season. The position groups who returned the most were offensive line and running back. That is because (other than NFL selection Emory Jones) no one else really wanted them, at least not enough to outbid LSU for them.
Posted on 8/6/26 at 11:07 am to SidewalkTiger
quote:
Looks like LSU should hire a new coaching staff or something.
Why? You assured us that Brian Kelly was a top 5 coach, the right man for the LSU job, and he would have success - just look at his winning percentage.
Posted on 8/6/26 at 11:10 am to captdalton
quote:
OL: lost best offensive lineman
Wut?
quote:
The offense returned only around 10 players from last season. The position groups who returned the most were offensive line and running back. That is because (other than NFL selection Emory Jones) no one else really wanted them, at least not enough to outbid LSU for them.
Emery Jones was drafted in 2025, there's so much incorrect with this post.
Posted on 8/6/26 at 11:11 am to captdalton
quote:
Why? You assured us that Brian Kelly was a top 5 coach
Link it.
Nevermind, we both know you can't. I said he was a good coach, nothing more, nothing less.
Posted on 8/6/26 at 11:18 am to VFL67
quote:
Looks like both have been consistently overrated, based on those numbers.
Yes, it is clear they have. But only once did Alabama’s final rank miss their preseason prediction by more than four spot. In three of the past five seasons Alabama finished ranked exactly 1 spot behind their preseason rank. I would argue that falling within one spot is meeting expectations.
LSU was all over the board. They outperformed preseason expectations once (although starting unranked means there are no real expectations). Three times they underperformed preseason expectations by double digits.
Looking at Tennessee’s last few seasons you understand what underperforming preseason expectations feels like too.
Posted on 8/6/26 at 11:23 am to SidewalkTiger
quote:
I said he was a good coach, nothing more, nothing less.
You became the Brian Kelly winning percentage guy. That was your identity. It has been really sad to witness you realize your first true love didn’t reciprocate those feelings. Now you have turned on him with venom.
Posted on 8/6/26 at 11:24 am to SidewalkTiger
So you agree that LSU lost Emory Jones in 2025.. Thanks!
This post was edited on 8/6/26 at 11:26 am
Posted on 8/6/26 at 11:36 am to captdalton
quote:
So you agree that LSU lost Emory Jones in 2025.. Thanks!
I'll let you think about that for a while. You'll eventually see your error.
Maybe.
Posted on 8/6/26 at 11:37 am to captdalton
quote:
You became the Brian Kelly winning percentage guy.
He's a good coach; he won 71% of his games at LSU. Just like DeBoer at Alabama.
Posted on 8/6/26 at 11:57 am to TrueLefty
quote:
Alabama also faces one of the nation’s toughest stretches, with games against Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M and LSU packed into a six-week span. Brice believes that combination makes another College Football Playoff appearance far from a guarantee.
It's Alabama's easiest schedule in years.
Posted on 8/6/26 at 12:03 pm to TrueLefty
quote:
LSU (No. 13)
Brice has long praised Lane Kiffin as a head coach, but he believes expectations may be getting ahead of reality in Baton Rouge. Kiffin inherits a program coming off a 7-6 season and must integrate transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt, who has not played since suffering a Lisfranc injury during the 2025 campaign.
LSU also lost several key contributors while navigating a challenging SEC schedule in Kiffin’s first year. The USA Today analyst sees enough uncertainty to question whether the Tigers belong inside the preseason top 15.
LSU is currently favored in every game besides Ole Miss and Texas. Ole Miss is only a 1.5 point favorite which means LSU would be favored on a neutral field.
Vegas knows
Posted on 8/6/26 at 1:31 pm to captdalton
quote:
Looking at Tennessee
You would see that Tennessee has actually overperformed preseason expectations in three of the last five years.
2021: exceeded expectations (Vegas win total 6.5 but won 7)
2022: exceeded expectations (Unranked, ended number 6, +19 at least)
2023: overrated preseason (12, finished 17, -5)
2024: exceeded expectations (15, finished 9, +6)
2025: overrated preseason (24, unranked, -2)
By this metric, its probably Tennessee is most likely being overlooked this year
Posted on 8/6/26 at 1:33 pm to TrueLefty
quote:
But Lame Kiffin's first year record at every stop as a HC did not mount to one of the top teams ever.
You were up in Kiffin's arse like a gerbil before he took the LSU job. You need to get over your LSU obsession.
Posted on 8/6/26 at 1:39 pm to TrueLefty
I am surprised we are not on that list.
Posted on 8/6/26 at 2:26 pm to TrueLefty
quote:
LSU also lost several key contributors
We honestly didn't have any contributors last year so it's a net positive.
Posted on 8/6/26 at 2:32 pm to TigerLunatik
quote:
Being ranked 13 is not "one of the top teams."
I think he's bumbling his way to try to say Kiffin's first year at a school was never his top team at THAT particular school.
Posted on 8/6/26 at 2:35 pm to TrueLefty
quote:
Michigan (No. 16)
Michigan enters 2026 with a new coaching staff and only three returning defensive starters after significant roster turnover. Brice also pointed to a brutal schedule featuring road games at Minnesota
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